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Jackson MS bribery scandal leads to second guilty plea after Angelique Lee

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Jackson MS bribery scandal leads to second guilty plea after Angelique Lee

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A second person in the Jackson bribery scandal pleaded guilty Thursday, in connection with the case that brought down former Jackson Ward 2 City Councilwoman Angelique Lee. At least two other elected officials are involved.

Court documents in the case were released Thursday morning for Sherik Marve’ Smith, who is associated with Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens’ real estate firm Facility Solutions Team, which is being investigated by the ‘FBI. Smith also worked with “Unindicted Co-Conspirator B” and “Unindicted Co-Conspirator C,” who are both elected officials in the city of Jackson, according to court documents.

Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery at 10:18 a.m. in a hearing at the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse that lasted less than 30 minutes. Smith was later released on bond and prosecuted by federal marshals. He was scheduled to meet with probation officers.

Wearing a dark jacket, Smith looked serious as he pleaded before Chief District Judge Daniel Jordan.

An anonymous source said Smith was present at meetings between Owens and FBI agents, who posed as out-of-town real estate developers. Lee also met with FBI agents posing as out-of-town real estate developers.

Court documents state that Smith agreed to give “cash payments and campaign contributions to unindicted co-conspirator B and unindicted co-conspirator C” from undercover FBI agents posing as real estate agents.

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The case is similar to that of Lee, who pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges in August. Both Smith and Lee met with and accepted money from undercover FBI agents posing as real estate developers outside the city of Nashville to support a development in downtown Jackson. Lee has not been convicted. His scheduled sentencing in November was continued.

Lee had a dinner with undercover FBI agents and “Unindicted Co-conspirator A” in March, where he accepted bribes totaling $13,000 in cash and approximately $6,000 in property in exchange for his vote on development plans.

Smith’s case documents show he was also working with an “unindicted co-conspirator A.” In March and April 2024, both Smith and “Unindicted Co-conspirator A,” the court document states, agreed to “give things of value, including cash payments and campaign contributions, to the unindicted co-conspirator B and to the unindicted co-conspirator C”.

The following payments, intended as bribes, were made to unindicted co-conspirators B and C:

  • A $10,000 cash payment from undercover FBI agents to unindicted co-conspirator B.
  • Protective services for unindicted co-conspirator B.
  • An employment opportunity for a family member of unindicted co-conspirator B.
  • A $10,000 check from Smith to the re-election committee of unindicted co-conspirator C using funds from undercover FBI agents after the funds were routed through an account belonging to unindicted co-conspirator A.

The bribes were in exchange for co-conspirator B’s unindicted vote in favor of the downtown real estate project, which is what Lee accepted when she was bribed. The bribes were also in exchange for Unindicted co-conspirator C’s agreement to move a deadline in favor of the real estate project.

Smith must “forfeit” $20,000. Smith was told he also had to surrender the firearms. As a convicted felon, any further violations would increase his sentence. Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for February 19.

Lee also accepted bribes in exchange for his support of a downtown development project that undercover agents were pitching him. He also agreed to vote in favor of closing the road to advance the same project, court documents show.

After Lee’s indictment, four Jackson City Council members revealed to the Clarion Ledger that they were also approached and met with out-of-town real estate developers interested in building a downtown development . Ward 1 Councilor Ashby Foote, Ward 4 Councilor Brian Grizzell, Ward 5 Councilor Vernon Hartley and Ward 7 Councilor Virgi Lindsay confirmed the meetings. No one could verify if they were the same developers Lee met who turned out to be FBI agents.

What all the individual meetings described by the four council members have in common is that they were arranged by Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens. Owens and his attorney, Rob McDuff, declined to answer any questions about council members’ meetings with developers and the DA. Owens, through his attorney, issued a statement in August.

And in May, Owens’ business and office at the Hinds County Courthouse were raided by FBI agents, who also visited Jackson City Hall. In a statement hours after the raids, Owens said his office is “fully cooperating” with the FBI. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba denied knowing anything at a news conference days after the raids.

Fictitious downtown development: How does Jackson’s proposed convention center hotel fit into the Angelique Lee bribery case?

Smith’s LinkedIn bio lists his employment as an insurance agent with Penn Global Marketing. He is a graduate of Jackson State University. Owens’ attorney, Rob McDuff, declined to comment Thursday on whether Smith was associated with Owens.

McDuff confirmed in a written statement in August that Owens “has been engaged in real estate development,” which McDuff said is legal. But the statement also admits Owens met with two men who claimed to be “large-scale developers” who were interested in “the possibility of building a convention center hotel in Jackson.”

“He believed them and after multiple conversations, agreed to help them. Turns out they were FBI agents,” the statement said. “Given this state of the investigation, I do not believe it is appropriate to say anything further at this time.”

How Jackson’s proposed convention center hotel fits in

The city of Jackson has sought developers to build a downtown hotel since the mid-2000s.

In January 2024, the city received three bids in response to a “Statement of Qualifications,” or SOQ, to develop a “mixed-use development” in the parking lot across from the convention complex at 105 E Pascagoula St. The development would include a 335-room hotel, green space and a 1,200-space parking garage.

In September, Jackson spokeswoman Melissa Payne confirmed that Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens heads one of the companies, Facility Solutions Team LLC, that responded to the city’s SOQ. The other two bidders were 2K Developments LLC and Speed ​​Commercial Real Estate.

Facility Solutions Team LLC was formed by DA Owens on March 19, 2024, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website, eight days before former Commissioner Angelique Lee and “Unindicted Co-Conspirator A” met with FBI agents posing as Nashville real estate developers. The nature of the company’s business is listed as “other real estate related activities.”

City of Jackson enters guilty plea

Jackson spokeswoman Melissa Payne released this statement to the Clarion Ledger when asked about Smith’s petition and the elected officials involved.

“We know nothing more about this situation than what has already been made public and it would be completely inappropriate for us to comment,” Payne said.

Staff writers Ross Reily and Grant McLaughlin contributed to this report.

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